Automatic latching device



I June 2, 1931. I HE 5f AL 1 1,808,635

AUTOMATIC LATCHING DEVICE Fiied Nov. 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Magma YOQI'Z ,4. Bar? ATTORNEY June 2, 1931. M. J. CHERRY ET AL 1,303,635

AUTOMATIC LATCHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 192 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii! gNVENTORS cakz 4.525 It.

ATTORbPE Y Patented June 2,1931

UNITED AT S- mmom- MANLEY J. CHERRY Ann CARL A. EARTH, on COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON Auroivre'rro nAtr'oHIive DEVICE Application filed November '25, 1929., Serial No. 409,705.

This invention appertains to improvements in automati'c'latc'hing devices generally, and more particularly to a type thereof to be employed" in connection with sky-line lo ging systems and the like.

' n the operation of logging systemsofthe classmentioned much trouble and 'loss of time has heretofore been experienced by reason of the retrograde movement ofthe loador log carrier on the sky-line-, pa-rticularly when the line'isof necessity disposed on an incline, (and which occurs immediately upon the lowering of the load on the carrier to ground and results inmaking it oftenexceedingly difficult to release the load from a the carrier. Y P

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a latching device which 7 will automatically operate to secure a load or log carrier immediately upon its coming to rest on a sky-line at a desired-point of ,delivery of a load therefronrand to similarly release the carrier for its return movement along the sky-line to point of reload immediately upon the freeing of the load from the carrier and the initiating of such return movement. -V Another object of the invention is to provide a latchingdevice of the class'set forth whichwill be'entirely automatic in operation, easy to install, durable and efficient in con struction and operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,"

With the foregoing and other equally portan't objects and advantagesin view, the invention resides in'the' certain new" and useful combination, construction and] ar rangement of parts as will be "hereinafter w more fully described, set forth in the append- 40 ed claims and illustrated in the accompany} ing drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of aconventional form; of sky-line logging system, showing an application of the improved car rier latching device thereto; a j Figure/2 is a side elevation of the latching device and an associated part of a log carrier as they appear when mounted on a sky line, the latching-device being in its position of readiness to secure the carrier against line 2, but showing the latching device operatively engaged with the carrier;

possible retrograde movement on": the sky- Figure 3 is a view similar to that'of Figure Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views there of, the embodiment of the invention, as shown thereinby way of example, is constituted in a casing or frame formed of a pair of side Walls 10 which are secured in'sp'a'ced relation attlie opposite sides of a housing ll disposed between the upper edge portions ofthe'saine, and a series of'spacin'g'sleeves12 arranged at various points below the housingll suitable Y fastenings,':;such as 'bolts 13,' {being 1 passed through openings formed in the side walls 10"and' the boresofthe sleeves 12 for the Purpose. a I

The housing 11 maybe formed integral with one of the side walls 10 or separately therefrom, but, in any case consists of a top wall whichis'coextensive with the topedges of the sidewalls 10 anda front wall 11' de- V pending for a relatively short distance from theforward ends of the top edges aforesaid and between the front vertical side edges of Figure 4.

the walls, substantially as is shown in portion and extending rearwardly from. the'front endwall 11, is ashoe 14 ,which is prefer-ably of wood and "is retainedin posi- V tion" by means} of the fastenings; or bolts 13 passing between the sidewalls 10 and through the 'housin'gill." The-lower edge of the shoe 14 is preferably grooved, as atv 14:, lengthwise thereofto seat on a sky -line a extending between two fixedpoints of support b, (Fig ure 1); The lower edgeof the housingwall 11 "is preferably recessed correspondingly with the cross sectional area of the groove 14f in order to give clearance to the skyline a for its proper engagement by the; shoe 14L, while-the rear end of the lower edge of the latterisrounded ofi, as at 14"], to prevent any abrasion of the sky-line at that point of such engagement. I

Disposed between'the side walls hr plates 10jand in parallelrelation to the shoe 14 is a latch member 15, which has its rear end pivoted, as at 16; at a point toward the rear end of the casing and its front end projected well, ,beyond the forward end thereof. This for ward end of the latch member is formed to provide a depending shouldered portion or latch 15, which isbeveled at its forward side to facilitate its automatic engagement with a keeper; 1'? carried on-the opposed endof a a load orilog carrier 18, the latter being also supported on the sky-line a. One of thespae.

ing' sleeves 12 and the associated bolt 13, employed for securing the side walls 10 and thehousing 11 together, is positioned toward the front edges of the walls 10 and in a horizontal plane immediately below that of the pivot, lfito support the latch member 15- in the vnecessary horizontal position of readi ness for engagement of the keeper '17 therewith at eachapproach of the c-arr-ier'18.-

Depending from an intermediate part of the-latchniemberilb and extending singularly forwardtherefrom, between the lower por tions of theside walls 10 of the casing is-va trigger 19. This trigger is preferably made up of ,two pieces of strap-iron or the like riveted, in. the sideto side relation, as; at '29,

with-itsattaclied end of substantially Y-form and, secured at the extremities thereof to the v latch member by rivets or the like 21. r The opposite freeends of the piecesor straps are bent outwardly in opposite directions to,

V rectedjaway from such support.

form a forked'end 19,;and these; bent por+ tions are braced at their outer sides tointeiu mediate points on the trigger 19 by ineans of tlie meinbersor rods 22,, V I 7 In the use'ofthe latching device as thus constructed andarranged, thecasing will be straddled over the skydine a well towardhne of the supports b, in a manner that the groove 14 of the shoe 141 seats thereon,- with; the hooked'end '15 of the: latch member15 di One endof an anchor cable23, leading from thes'upport b, will be attached tothe'ndjacent uppercorjner of the casing 10 by means of a slew-s24 which iscarriedby the securingbolt 13 near the corner aforesaid of the casing. With the device in this position, thehook end'15 ofthe latchlfiwillbe opposed to the'keeper 17011 the carrier, 18,: which is also supported from thesky-line 1.v 1 '1 Running from-the lowenside ofthe carrier 18 is a main lines, which is trained through afall block 25 and passes therefrom inia direction oppositeto that of ahaul back line at, the latter having its adjacent end attached to the fallblock 25 by means of a clevis or the like do. side of the fall block 25 is a load attaching line 6, to the lower endof'which the usual log grapple f (Figure 1) is carried;

With the parts of the logging system and the latching device as thus cooperatively arranged, and with the carrier 18 held against movement along the sky-line a, by having Depending from the lower the keeper 17 engaged by the hook end 15 of the latch 15 as during the lowering of a load or log to ground and the loosening of the same from the carrier grappleaforesaid, the

latch 15 will be automatically released from thekecper 17 when a pull is 'exertedon the haul back line d by the logging engine. This pull on the haul back line causes the fallblock .9 to ride upwardly on the main line 0 and to force against the under side of the forked end 19 of the latch actuating member 19, which raising movement of the. latter 7 therewith results in'the hook end 15" of the latch member 15 being lifted clear of, the

dered portion thereof, from which position itwill serve to again hold the carrier against retrograde movement back-along the sky line aiduring' the dropping of a load from the fall block 25. v a '7 [Without further description, itis thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those e skilled in the art, and .it will of course "be understood that changes in thefor'm, proportion and minor details of construction may 7 be resortedto, without departing from the r spirit of the invention or its scope asclaimed.

- :We claimv e;,, e w

7 1 ;A latch devicecomprisinga casing open at its lower side, adatchmember pivotally mounted at one end within said casing and having its other end projecting forwardly of the open portion] thereof, actuating means depending from said latch memberand extending outwardly from the open side of said casing, a keeper adapted to automatically engage with and. disengage from; saidlatch member when moved relatively thereto in op-i posite directions, and means movable in one direction with said keeper for. V causing said c u ting means to m'ove said latch member to reIeased position. I v

. 2. A latch device pi lnprisingyahcasiiig open at its lower side,a suspensionshoe withsaid casing and having its other end project in the upper side of said casing, a latch member pivotally mounted at an end thereof within said casing and having its other end projecting forwardly of the open portion 5 thereof, actuating means depending in fixed relation to and from said latch member and extending outwardly from the open side of said casing, a keeper adapted to automatically engage with and disengage from said latch member when moved relatively thereto in opposite directions,and means movable in one direction with said keeper for causing said actuating means to move said latch member to released position.

3. A latch device comprising a casing formed of spaced side walls and open at its lower side, a suspension shoe closing the upper side of said casing, a latch, member pivotally mounted at an end thereof Within ing forwardly of the open portion thereof, actuating means depending angularly in fixed relation with and from said latch member and extending outwardly from the open 2;; side of said casing, a keeper adapted to automatically engage with and disengage from said latch member when moved relatively thereto in opposite directions, and means 7 movable in one direction with said keeper for :50 causing said actuating means to move said latch member to released position.

4. A latch device comprising a casing formed of spaced, horizontally elongated side walls and open at its lower side, a sus- 5 pension shoe coextensive with said side walls and secured in place between the upper edge portions thereof, a latch member pivotally mounted at an end thereof within said casing and having its other end projecting for- 40 wardly of the open portion thereof, actuating'means depending angularly forward in fixed relation with and from said latchmemher and extending outwardly from the open side of said casing,'a keeper adapted to automatically engage with and disengage from said latch member when moved relatively thereto in opposite directions, and means movable in one direction with said keeper for causing said actuating means to move said so latch member to released position.

MANLEY J. CHERRY. CARL A. EARTH. 

